Variety (Mar 1928)

VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalsrar Square F O R E I G N CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDON 7870-2096-3199 Regrent Wednesday, March 7, 1928 LONDON AS IT LOOKS By HANNEN SWAPPER :London, Feb. 17. Dr. .Itoianuel de Marnay Baruch, dlstlnffulslied New York physician, had an extraordinary experience this week, when Sybil Thomdike staged for the first time his play, "Judith In Israel." Dr. Baruch, who has written a score of play$ in hla spare time, chose Miss Thomdike, after seeing her In "St. Joan." 'The German and Austrlian Ambassadors werie at the first night, attended, as usual >'hcn Miss Thorjidlke appear?, by a more distinguished first night audience than that ever seen In Cngland. After the curtain fell, there was great enthusiasm. Then, the next day, came the sarrie violent criticism of Sybil's performance that has followed inost of her recent appearances. I consider' hW. to .bo the victim of more bitter prejudice than any artist of my lifetime, except Jacob Epstein. Simple Story "Knocked" "Judith In Israel" does not ask for criticism. It is a simply told story of how Judith saved thedtyi bringing back tlie head of her enemy, under her arm, and although the Apochryphal version is altered yery much, It is a'play which r thought was nobly Inspiring, Many of the speeches are lifted from the Bible. Tlier^ Is no pretense at poetry. . So skilfully is the play arranged now.. that, while those, who love beauty, can find Imagery and Inspiration in It, any servant girl could see the play and biB enthralled by a story that Is packed with Incident. It moves as rapidly as a film. . : . More than anything It reminded me of. Oscar Asche's ill-fated produc- tion of "Attlla." In fact, when Lily Brayton rushed 'round to congratu- late the author after the .second act, she agreed. ■ ' Critics Turn and Read The next moi^iing, Alan Parsons of the "Dally Sketch"—he.:b Tree's Bon-^ln-law. and a, man not to be accused of over-enthusiasm when it comes to this sort of play—iH. J. Henly of the "Dally Mair'^aiid I were the only three, eulogistic critics. . Th.^ .".Times" bored itself to sleep, as usual, with roundabout criticism and other critics said there was no thrill. Hubert Grimth, seizing on Lewis Casson's curtain speech that "Judith In Israel" made up for a good many other American, plays which had beep seen lately, said that he ,j)referred "Broadway." Still, it was Mr. Griffith who once aald, *!"The House of Glass' is the best play I hava seen since 'Uncle Vanya.'" The Attack on Sybil. Once again, Sybil was attacked. The "monotony", of her TOlce and ""certain mannerisms" were pointed but; In fact, most of the critics dismissed the play with contempt, Now, the meaning of this is, of cdyrse, that no diecent endeaTOr is IMssible in the English theatre if, on the following day, it is to be sneered at by people who usually applaud alien effort of every kind. True, the play comes from America, but It is designed and staged and musically accompanied and acted in the highest spirit of the English tradition.' ' Of all the English artists who should be encouraged, SybH Thomdike is the most distinguished. She risks her own money. She follows her own style. Nothing frightens her. She dislikes publicity. She Is a woman of noble character and a cultured mind. Yet there Is now, obviously, a dead set against everything she does. I despair of a theatre where such a thing is possible. It Is a Tolarar age, nasty and horrible. , . For Heaven's sake, turn on that negroid Jazz and drown, the sound of nightingales! American Author "Gets Ready" Bayard Veiller, by the way^ is thinking of getting ready for the first night of his play, "The TrlaJ of Mary Dugan," hy going to Parts. He went to "S. O. S." the other night to see Sir Gerald dn Maitrier'B first night and now^he says "Lf that is how they treat authors^ 1 shan't be there." * As my relations with St. Jame's managenaent still eontlnae In an unsettled condition, I was not present, but they tell me that dn Maurier just got away with bis speech by nerve. Interruption started, bnt he mastered it. .. "S. b. S.," I understand, is the sort of play that dn Manrler Hkef to build up. He is very slick at putting rigl^t someone else's crude ideas. He has ddne it so often now with success that he sterns to ikrefer that to buying a finished play. "S. O. S.'! will not repeat "Interference." The Road Show Star. Grade Fields, du Maurier's new leading lady, is realty a ionring reviie actress, chosen by du Maurier when he saw her .M the Alhambra, but yet full of indifference about a part that would turn most women's heads. She laughs at being a "posh actress," as she calls it, and otill talks of the days, only & few months back, when she was in what you —call a burlesque road show, helping to make her ow;n dresses and moTing her own scenery sometimes when there was a strike. Sex Appeal up to Date James Hennie, the American-Canadian actor, who la to-play the leads with Tallulah in "Blackmail" in a few days' time, has apiwrently iereated considerable excitement in the company. Charles Bennett, the young actor who wrote "BlackmaH,** says that "He'nnle hfis sex appeal in his voice," while Raymond Massey, the producer, jiwys V'He b&s sp^^ The second remark wITl alfpearto Cecil DeMine.^'"^" . ;. The Ex-Premier's Son While Lord Oxford, the greatest Liberal Prime Minister of oar time, . was . lyln^ on his death bed on the Thames, his youngest, son. Anthony . Asqulth, had his first film, "Shooting Stars," shown in London. While bourly we were expecting news of the father's death, the yonng son was being criticized and praised In an extraordinary way. Marshal Nellan, who went In to see ^shooting Stars" tho pttier. night, said it was almost the. cleverest film he had.seen for years. Kven Jolo paid a second visit Yet I learn that the erreater part of the .andlehoe was leftcqld. ■,■■■•■ "If they call this a British picture," one woman was sayinir to another, give us American films all the time." In adopting the films as a career, young Asqulth has done what Ameri- cans cannot quite appreciate—risked the ridicule of half of the highly- placed people, of England, and taken a highbrow, if half-decided, mind . Into circles which, in this country, are regarded as beneath oonsider- ation. Tony Gets a Bouquet I will hand him this boquiet without having seen his plctnre. As the inventor .of the film quota system which is now making British films possible, i consider that young Asqulth has done more for the industry by showing that an English producer can think on original lines than he would by producing a mere box office success. That is the easiest thing ^tcr"dar""He = has reversed-most^of the,jcddjQkilJam^tpldj, and been too darliig in his elimination of titles. He is .five years In advance of tKe Intelligence of the ordinary film public. The Censor Listens to Reason ; When Basil Dean came back from America, not loiig ago, he complained to me about "Young Woodley," which the cen.sor had banned, saying that on your side educationists were praising the play and lauding its value, while over here the liord Chamberlain would not let it be acted, I read the play and thought It an ordinary adolescent isex story, not worth worrying about, except that, like Basil Dean, I objected to the censpr'a ruling that it Could not be produced because it exposed the S:nglish public school system. If that is true, of coursa, the English public school system' should be altered, not the plfiy. However, Lord Cromer, who seems open to rca.son—as **8aaos for the WILL MAHONEY Alan Dale of the New York '^American," In revlerwlng "Take the Air," said: "Will Mahbney, a limiber, ludicrous hinatlc, must be acclaimed a real dlsoovery, lifted from vaude- ville, to spring: through revues and musical comedy/ the rest of his dancine days." Direction . RALPH Q. FARNUM, 1660 Broadway Shuberts Restricted in MajetUc't "Rio" Date Stanley Sharp, who nego- tiated the deal for Zlegfeld whereby Hio RJta" moves to the Majestic, Ne>w York; put in plenty of y>ken in the con- tract, K Is said. Sharp is an ex-Shubert employee. He in- serted clauses forbidding the Shubert auditing department puting a <^eck-up man in the box office and another for- bidding the Shubert press de- iiartment •aperrlsihg. any lists. Though a Chanln house, Shu- berts book and aieem to dictate operation to qnite an extent. CROESUS SONGSTER fOoattnned from page 1) comnianded attention and puibllca- tldn despite his creative endeavors for self-edlflcatlon primarily. Porter Is a millioni&lre 10 times over and an taiternatlonai boule- vardler with. a penchant for show people more so than society. He is in his IO*s and the ditties he stryms for his giieets have won him world- wide attention, including the author- ing of the new Irrae Bordoni show, "Paris." now in Philadelphia. Porter's TLet's Misbehave," a con- tinental rage of last summer which Irving Aaronson and his Command- ers brought over this fall. Porter states that the tbrrld lyrics accred- ited to the song are improvisations from divers sources and not his .original idea, which hias the song spicy but not smutty. SAILINGS April» (New York to Paris), Tred -and.Tom \|raring,_C. B, See Bar- nard A. McDevltt, Wartng's Penri- sylvanlans aiiid. faihiUes (Isle de France). Aprll^4 (New York to London) Mr. and Mra. Albert Warner (Beren- garia). March S4 (New York to ,Irf>ndon), Max S«beek (Paris). March SI (Paris to New York), Phillip Cloodman (Hamburg).. March 17 (New Yofrk to Ix>ndon), Mjax Scheck (blymple). March 10 (New York to Naples), Mr, and Mra Truman Tally (Roma). March T (Vancouver to Aus- tralia), Florrie lie Yere, Liou Hand- man (Oarangl). March e (New Yoric to Paris) Cole Porter (Laurentlc). March • (New York to London), Laurence Schwab (Laurentlc). March t (New York to tiondon) : Edna Hibtuurd, Lester Bryant, RoUo Feb. 29 (New York to liondon): Adrian Roseleigh, Mr. and Mrs Cieorge Romalne (George Washing- ton), f Licenses for Lighters Washington, March t. A special license Is neces- sary to carry a cigarette lighter in Spaing This is according to a recent royal order published in the Gaceta de Madrid, and as received by the. Department of Commerce. Licenses cost 26 pesetas for gold lighters, 16 pesetas for silver lighters and five pesetas for .all others. A peseta is now worth 17 cents. LONDON A dramatization by Temple Thurston of his recent novel, "Jane Carroll," has been. acquired , by Thomas Warner' for early produc- tion in/the West End with Isabel Jeans in the title roler The action of the story takes place in Ireland during the Rebellion of 1916. Another Striridberg play is due for production, namely, '.'Com- rades," the author's only comedy, which will be staged by Malcolm Morley and Milton Rosmier at the Everyman. Sybil Arundale will share leading honors with Pamela Carm©, a society girl who shows promise. The cast of "Blackmail," the play by Charles Bennett, "discovered" by. Al. Woods, will be Tallulah Bankhead, Alfred Clark, Gedrge Curzon, James Rennle, Frank Vos- per, Henrietta Watson. When 'rrhe Silent House" requires a successor at the Comedy theatre it will probably be supplied by "The Green Dragon," Jefferson Farjeon's dramatized version of his own novel. Emll Conrad. Koeber, an Ameri- can revue producer who operates tmder the name of Floyd Dupont, was charged at Bow street police station, London, with having failed to register himself under the-aliens act. Dupont attracted the attention of the police recently by advertising in local theatrical papers for talent for forthcoming pf'oductlons. He was fined $60 and the attention of the home office called to his case. After having witnessed the pri- vate performance of "Young Wood- ley" by the Arts Club theatre, the censor has lifted his ban, and the play will have a public production in the west End shortly. Gilbert Miller will present Leslie Howard, comparatively unknown here, in ."Her Cardboard. Lover," in which he appeared In New York, some time this coming season : in the West End. Another productlpn of his will be "The Play's the Thing" with Holbroofc Bllnn in the cast. DRUMMERS OFF ROAD (4Ck>ntln-ued froi;. page 1) tossed . several cigars into their mitts and bought a little something for the Mrs., has become a haloed memory. This boy was rated as a chump in the cabarets, he was the butt of the world's most famous Jokes, generally believed to have little or no moral aspirations, but he sup- ported small town, hotels and gave his money freely to show business In broad-minded appreciation of whatever sort of entertainment was thrown at him. Missed by .Railroads Tfie~ railroads m one time traveling salesmen Were first among users of transportation. With their passing, show business takes the lead, and its first rating Isn't nearly approached . by any other classification of business. Small town hotels were fortunate, with almost the total loss of their salesman patronage came automobile tourists, who not only make up for loss of the former but are now five tim^s as important. Show business is the real loser. Even disregarding the financial end it misses those Goodtlme Charleys in a social way. And what will vaudeville do for gags? Bootlegging Drummer Danbury, Conn., March 6. Now enters the bootleggers' drummer. . Da^^ naen have been Receiving calls f rom an "ageri^T f or "a bootleg firm in New York Cltyi The agent carries samples in small phials and made a canvass of the business houses. Gander" prove*—has now reversed his decision after seeing the play at a private show. The truth la that in X<ngland censorship^ invaluable to. managers, usually moves with the tlnies. I oouM <iaote a lot of cases to prove this—and also some on the other side. MibLAND'S 53 HOUSES Circuit Takes Over More Hous«i from Universal Kansas City, Mar. «; . Midland Circuit has purchased % half Interest in a number, of Iowa and Missouri houses from Univer* sal and will have charge of oi:..a^ tlon. Houses secured are the Pal- ace and Grand, Muscatine, ia.i| Strand, Orpheum, Columbia, Fort. Madison, la.; Colonial, Orphieuni and Royal, St. Joseph, Mo., and the Qilllloz, Springfield, Mo. A.cquisitioh of these hoyses gives Midland 53 theatres In . Missouri, Kansas and Iowa territory. The circuit, which has been securing, theatres until it l-ais become the largest in the middle west, is under the personal direction of M. B. Shanberg, also managing directed of Loew's Midland here. Canadian Film Making Jimmy Savo Is going with the Canadian govier^iment's .film' pro- ducing expedition to Europe to. shoot scenes on "Garry On, Ser- geant." Capt. Bruce Balrnsfaiher is directing it from his own story. The American vaude comedian, la making his film debut in the com- edy. ■ Savo and Frisco at the: Winter Garden Sunday night were crbss- flrlng, and Frisco wanted to know whether Savo was playing "The Unknown Soldier*.' role lii the pic* ture. ITEW PARIS THEATEE Paris, Feb. 27. Another playhouse, of 1,200 seais^ is ' under construction on . trie. Champs Elysees, near Claridge'fl Hotel, on the site of the former resi- Jence of the Duke of Grammont,,^ corner of the .Rue Lincoln; It la being built by a real estate com- pany, and will be leased at an an- nual rental of 860,000 francs. Future tenant is not designated yet, but there are several candi- dates. "CRmE" IN FRENCH Paris, Feb. 27. A French version of "Crime," no\< playing in London, Is being madef by Chiajrles Mere for the Porte St.- Martin, niext fall. Mme. Hugruette, divorced wife o£ rKiflos, Comedie fYancalse actorr id listed for a lead. BLINDING COCKTAIL (Continued from page 1) club and also meeting a more Of* less well known hostess. Then camei the booze. Ten minutes later it be- gan to grow dark. He described It as. a "brohz cocktail" far too ordir nary for a $S tax. Because he passed out in such atf unusual way—or because the doctor happe.ied to be about ready to beiid his own elbow, ai physician was hauling the young man into a taxi before that prodigal had even the opportunity to enjoy a good fiop on the floor. The driver was ordered to pro- ceed to Bellevue. On the way the young, man told his story and was even able to point out of tr.o window 0 1 a cab- close in the -rear saying: that it was the girl friend vvho was with him when. he Swallowed the liquor—^a girl he had met on 46th street. At Bellevtie the lad's stomach was rolled and the next thing he knew he was on. his way: to Harrisburg, Pa., to a nice private s-anitarluih. The out of town physicians, knew Just what to do with their out of town patient, and lils name was kept off the Bellevue docket. In the sanitarium-just, one week, the lad has found other excuses for the drink. He now says h<j did not get it with "Alice" in a night club; rather he purchased some dena- tured alcohol in a drug store. Because of the shock which he sustained when he learned that he might be blind, the phy.siclahs In charge who are receiving the fa-t bankroll; for their remarkable in.' -tuition .as.:Wj&lU9^^jiM]Ai^,^ oft recording the hi.story oi! lTio~ ca.^^, The diagnosis clo.n. ly hIk/ws- that the drink was a cnnibiiiation of xylol and aldehol, both forms of alcohol purposely dcnatvirf>(l hy the Federal Government. The lad is expected to l>f \)P """l around agalw before Iho wooK is ended. Until that time thir pla'-e where you have to pay ihi'j-'vhu'l:s for a bronx cocktail in n New Vni k "speakeasie" will remain .ni :